Question : What should a common man like me (Teacher by profession) do in his life, i.e. what activities should he perform apart from chanting? I mean to say what should I do to serve God apart from chanting Hare Krishna Mahamantra? Would you list some activities? Please give me some guidelines on decision making on mundane tasks.
Answer by Romapada Swami :
If our purpose and goal of life are very clear, then it becomes easier to ascertain one’s day-to-day activities and decisions in a manner that will bring one closer to that goal.
The purpose of human life is to realize our identity as eternal servants of the Supreme Lord and thus act unceasingly in our loving relationship with Him. (See SB 1.2.6-14) What this implies is that life should be so molded that in every activity and in every sphere of one’s life, one should research into one’s relation with the Supreme and act in that loving relationship. The goal is to live our life itself as an offering of service, rather than see devotional service as some discrete activities apart from other mundane/routine/personal duties.
This begins with hearing from realized pure devotees (sravanam). By such regular hearing (and studying of scripture), one begins to understand how everything in his purview is connected with Krishna and how everything can be appropriately used in His service; through hearing one can understand what one’s duties in relation to God are and how to best discharge them. Therefore, I would like to recommend that you make some effort to regularly hear and/or study Bhagavad-Gita and contemplate how you can apply its messages. By proper hearing, one becomes qualified to properly chant, remember and glorify the Lord through all of one’s thoughts, words and deeds.
From that position, you can discharge your ordinary professional work and duties towards family members etc, but in a spirit of deep devotion, based on the scriptural messages you are hearing in disciplic succession. Thus your ordinary duties can be dovetailed in service to God.
You can discharge your duties as a teacher very responsibly, for indeed it is a very responsible position. Teachers are natural role models for the students; by exhibiting high character and qualities, you can positively impact many lives. Krishna describes how everyone can easily worship Him by performing their natural duties by cutlivating the appropriate qualities for their position; and he enumerates the qualities by which brahmanas should work. (Teaching, according to Vedic system, is a brahminical function.) You should try to cultivate these qualities (Please see BG 18.42) and try to find opportunities, even indirectly, to assist those whom you come in contact with to come closer to a God-conscious way of life — through your own example and through your loving interactions with them.
This is a highly valuable service you can perform. In a similar spirit, you can care for your family members in service to Krishna, and try to make arrangements by which they can also advance spiritually.
You can also more directly become involved, according to your means, in the mission of Krishna consciousness by associating with devotees, and by supporting and helping to arrange spiritual educational programs for the benefit of others. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu has placed this standing order before everyone who has taken birth in the land of bharata-varsha:
bharata-bhumite haila manusya janma yara
janma sarthaka kari’ kara para-upakara
“One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India [Bharata-varsa] should make his own life successful and work for the benefit of all other people.”
etavaj janma-saphalyam dehinam iha dehisu
pranair arthair dhiya vaca sreya-acaranam sada
“It is the duty of every living being to perform welfare activities for the benefit of others with his life, wealth, intelligence and words.” (SB 10.22.35)
(Cf. Cc Adi 9.41 and 42)
You can make this your own mission in life and offer your time, energy, wealth, intelligence and influence — as much as your means allows — in distributing this sublime knowledge of Bhagavad-gita to others. You may do this directly or assist others who are already dedicated to such activities. This is the prime necessity for humanity at large, particularly at this time, and by participating in this mission you can render the highest welfare work and most pleasing service to Lord Krishna.
